Portable scaffold.



- PATENTBD MAR. 29, 1904.

A. G. MAXEY.

PORTABLE SGAFPOLD.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 21, 1903.

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` UNITED STATES Patented March 29, 1904".Vm

PATENT OFFICE.

PORTABLE SCAFFOLD.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of` Letters Patent No. 756,034, dated March 29, 1904. Application filed April Z1, 1903. Serial No. 153,691. Y (No model.)

,To MZ w/wm, it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, AUGUSTUS G. MnxEY, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Owensboro, in the county of Daviess and State of Kentucky, have invented a Portable'Scaffold, of which the following is a specification.

ports of which ae composed of ordinary ex-v tension-ladders which may also be used for their usual purposes, to provide means for se- Y curely and firmly connecting the boards or platforms to the extension-ladders, and to provide for suitably bracing the structure.

With these primary objects in view my invention consists in the combination,with a pair of extension-ladders, of boards or platforms supported by said extension-ladders and peculiar means for connecting the ends of the boards or platforms to the extension-ladders adjustably or at different elevations.

The following specification enters into a full and detail description of my invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to numerals thereon which designate thei different parts, and what I claim as novel in the construction and combination of parts is more specifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figurel 1 is a perspective View of a portablescaffold constructed inaccordance with my invention, the parts being arranged in position for use. Fig. 2 is a de- .tail rear end View of the means for connecting the lower` horizontal board or platform to the extension-ladders or uprights. Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view through said connecting means on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the means for connecting the intermediate board or platform to the extension-ladders. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the means for connecting the lower platform.

Similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several figures of the drawlngs. v

Referring now to said drawings, l l designate extension-ladders which form the uprights or end supports of the scaffold and may be of any construction desired, in the present instance comprising several sections contally disposed and-separated by longitudinal pieces 6 6, arranged'at opposite sides to leave a space or socket for the insertion of the ends of the board or platform 3. The inner ends of the blocks 4. and 5 are extended laterally at each side, as at 7, which extensions are adapted to abut against the inner edges of the side pieces of the ladder-section, and secured to the upper block 4 is a'U-shaped bar 8, the side members of which project rearward from the outer ends of the extension 7 and have nuts `9 threaded on the outer ends thereof, the said nuts being adapted to bear against. a cross-bar 10, which clamps the connection or socket in place upon the ladder; The blocks L and 5 and intermediate pieces`6 of the connection or socket are bolted together, and upon the upper block is placed a wear-plate 1l, secured by screws, and said wear-plate and upper block areprovided with holes to receive a U-sha'ped key 13, which passes into corresponding holes in the ends of the board or platform 3, the ends of said board or platform being also provided with wear-plates. In securing this connection or socket in place it is inserted between the side pieces of the ladder, with the extensions 7 bearing against the inner edges thereof and the side members of the U-shaped bar 8 extending across the outer sides of said side pieces. -The cross-bar l() is then placed upon the ends of the bar 8 and the connection or socket clamped tightly by turning the nuts 9. To provide for further securing the ends of the board or platform in the sockets, diagonal brace-rods v 14 extend from the side ,pieces of the ladder-section to said board or platform, as shown.

l5 designates the intermediate platform, which is secured at its-ends to the upper end of the lower ladder sectiolns by bands 16, which pass entirely around the upper and lower ladder-sections and filling-blocks 17,

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while the ends of the board `or platform are provided with battens 18, disposed at opposite sides of the inner cross-bar of the band and secured to said band by means of bolts 19. The bands 16 therefore not only provide supports for the intermediate platform, but also form a connection for the two sections of the ladder.

20 designates the upper platform of the scaffold, the board constituting said platform being provided at its ends with transverse battens 21,*a pair at each end, said battens being adapted to abut against opposite sides of the ladder-rungs upon which the board rests to prevent longitudinal movement of the latter. This board or platform is held securely upon the upper ladder-section by means of brace-rods 22, pivoted at their lower ends to rungs of the upper ladder-section and at their upperends formed into hooks adapted to engage eyes 23 on the under side of the board, several eyes being provided, so that the board can be arranged on any of the rungs of the upper section and so adjusted as to height.

From the foregoing description itwill be obvious that the several platforms may be adjusted as to height, so that the lower platform will be the desired distance from the ground and the upper platforms the desired distance or height above said lower platform. It will also be observed that the parts constituting the scaffold may be readily separated for convenience in carrying from place to place and when arranged in the form of a scaffold will provide a strong structure for various purposes.

The extension-ladders which form the uprights of the scaffold may be used for their ordinary purposes, as ladders, when not employed in connection with the scaffold.

When the scaffold is in use, it is braced against the building by brace-arms 25.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a portable scaffold, the combination,

of the extension-ladders forming the uprights of the scaffold, boards or platforms removably connected to the extension-ladders, the connection comprising blocks separated by longitudinal pieces between which the ends of the'boards lie, extensions of said blocks bearing against one edge of the side pieces of the extension-ladders, bars secured to said blocks, and a cross-bar secured on the ends of the bars by nuts for clamping the parts to the ladder.

2. In a portable scaffold, a connection for the platform or board comprising blocks separated by longitudinal pieces between which the end of the board lies, a U-shaped bar secured to one of the blocks and projecting beyond the opposite sides of the ladder, acrossbar secured to the ends of the bar by nuts, and a U-shaped key passing through the blocks and end of the board.

3. In a portabley scaffold, the combination, of the extension-ladders forming the uprights of the scaffold, a lower platform or board con nected to the ladder by a socket comprising blocks separated by pieces between which the end of the board lies, said blocks having extensions bearing against one end of the ladder, bars projecting from one of the blocks beyond the opposite side 0f the ladder, a cross-bar on the ends of the bar, and nuts for clamping the parts to the ladder; together with the intermediate platform secured to the ladder by a band upon which said platform rests, and an upper platform having transverse battens abutting against opposite sides of the rungs, and braces for the upper and lower platforms, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUSTUS e. MAXEY.' 

